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Verwer's “City Charms” exhibited at Olive Branch Music Festival

Times Square Taxi-God's Medallion

The
“Olive Branch Music Festival” is a festival that features the musician
diaspora in New York City. The festival is an initiative branching out
to all inter-cultural crossings with artists who deeply enrich and
contribute to the arts and culture in the city of New York. .

Yona Verwer’s “City Charms” will be on exhibit during the event. “City Charms” is inspired by the Kabbalists who used
amulets for intervening in the natural course of events. These
apotropaic images aim to invoke protection against attacks and to bring
good luck.

For
centuries amulets have been used as appeals for safety, health, and
power. In the Jewish tradition amulets often carried prayers and names
to call upon for assistance. They gave the bearer "personal magic" to
invoke a higher power to intercede.

Since
the 9/11 attack Verwer has made this her expression of Tikkun Olam. The
“City Charms” images invoke protection from the Evil Eye: acts of
destruction on buildings, particularly terror-watch-list targets.